Rick Beltram's facist outlook out of step with GOP?
Recently, we heard (yet again) from Rick Beltram, the Spartanburg County GOP chairman. His recent press release alleged that South Carolina political bloggers "do not make known to the Public, contact information for the Editor of these web-sites" and accused them of "personal attacks and the publication of completely false information" (unedited quote taken directly from his media release).In response, a number of blogsites and bloggers fired back at Mr. Beltram via blog postings and emails. It should come as no suprise that the Blogland has been one of those blogsites who have challenged Mr. Beltram's claims ... yet again.
While we're used to his spin and empty talk, as well as seeing the use of his party office to promote his personal agendas, he took his political games to a new and dangerous low. Claiming attacks made been made by bloggers who were anonymous, he called for the employers of bloggers to force their employees to forfeit their First Amendment liberties as a condition of employment:
Since, most of these Bloggers are known political personalities and work for firms that engage in daily Political Consulting; there needs to be some restraint imposed by the employer.
- Unedited quote taken directly from his media release.
These comments are reminiscent of Hitler and his thugs who used force and intimidation to silence critics during their rise to power, and the concentration camps to kill them by the millions once in power. It also reminds us of those plantiffs in Briggs v. Elliott who lost their jobs and homes in retaliation for challenging South Carolina's discriminatory and then-segregatged education system in federal courts.
His views do not seem compatible with a party whose creed proclaims:
I do not choose to be a common man. It is my right to be uncommon.
If I can seek opportunity, not security, I want to take the calculated risk to dream and build, to fail and to succeed. I refuse to barter incentive for dole.
I prefer the challenges of life to guaranteed security, the thrill of fulfillment to the state of calm utopia.
I will not trade freedom for beneficence, nor my dignity for a handout. I will never cower before any master, save my God.
It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid. To think and act for myself, enjoy the benefit of my creations; to face the whole world boldly and say, "I am a free American."
Beltram's regular puffery and abuse of party resources for his shameless self-promotion has been embarassing enough for many Republicans, but when he advocates the silencing of political dissent by threatening the ability of those critics to support their families, in the best traditions of the Nazi party and Jim Crow era southern Democratic Party, he has crossed a dangerous line.
Spartanburg Republicans should ask themselves if this is the kind of leadership their party needs or deserves. If they decide they deserve better, then it's time for a change.
but you're right on the mark about this guy. he needs to go.
He's pissed off a lot of people. So many that I think he's replaced Paul Adams as the most hated South Carolina politico.
Rick should have known better than to start threatening people's jobs. I'm sure a lot of people are going to be gunning for him now.
Adams is even trying to help out with my company's Bamberg veteran's memorial effort, so give him a break.
Remember - Beltram is the target of the week. Put in some real rock and roll, lock and load and fire away at the target, not bystanders.
For most hated politico, I think one would have to require name recognition beyond the insiders and 0:09 in the void left by John Graham Altman, I think Rick may have filled the Republican with "hoof in mouth" syndrome for the Scoppes, Hoovers and would be Menckens of the political commentators in state.
I'll grant, Reagan's eleventh has been cast out by many, particualry across the blogosphere, providing in part an area where bloggers are paradoxically being credited by a palagaristic press that usually has pirated the investigative work. The selective reporting of bloggers is as telling as Chris Matthews snits about being labelled as a leftist.
The Reagan Commandment applies to candidates. If someone is acting in a manner that makes the party look bad or is just plain wrong, then it's okay to critique.
By the way.... I WIN !! Honestly, it was an accident. I didn't think Rick would be dumb enough to even be seen anywhere near a swastika..
when people start telling me about what they did in college, talking about their wife's drinking problem or their wild teenage daughters ... that's when i think they've got over the line.
as long as it's with consenting adults, i don't care what people do, and frankly, i don't want to know. i have enough trouble managing my own life.
We could hide in the backrooms and doel out party discipline like the Nazis, Communists and adopted havens of the left or use teh light of day as a disinfectant. Sometimes the unguent applied burns like fire, paper cuts and lemon juice or alcohol seem to have that delightful effect together.
If Rick is worthwile, he'll endure the burrs under his saddle, if not, the Peter Principle still applies.
We could hide in the backrooms and doel out party discipline like the Nazis, Communists and adopted havens of the left or use teh light of day as a disinfectant. Sometimes the unguent applied burns like fire, paper cuts and lemon juice or alcohol seem to have that delightful effect together.
If Rick is worthwile, he'll endure the burrs under his saddle, if not, the Peter Principle still applies.